In your own words, summarize the OSHA General Duty Clause.

Question

List and discuss in detail at least three of the primary rights of employees under OSHA and the OSH Act of 1970.

Answer 1

The answer should go toward the General Duty Clause requiring employers to manage the recognized and foreseeable hazards and dangers associated with workplace operations that could harm their employees.

Employees have the right to receive specific training about job-related hazards, ways to prevent injury or illness, and the OSHA standards that are applicable to their workplace. Workers also have the right to review records of job-related illnesses and injuries and obtain a copy of their personal medical records from an employer. Employees can also report (anonymously, if they choose) to OSHA any known or potential safety problem in their workplace and request that OSHA conduct an inspection of their employer (which may or may not be granted, at the discretion of the governing OSHA office). Workers are also protected from retaliation and discrimination from their employer in the event that they do report a safety issue to OSHA. Employees have the right to learn the results of the inspection and to request a review if OSHA decides not to issue citations against the employer. Workers also have the right to request the employer to correct any hazards in the workplace, even if the hazards are not violations of OSHA standards.